German Course Descriptions
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Lower-Division Courses
Most students who choose German to satisfy their 4-semester foreign language requirement in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) complete the following three courses: German 104 (Introductory German), German 105 (Elementary German I), German 106 (Elementary German II) and German 204 (Intermediate German). These courses are taught on a regular basis each semester.
GERM 104. Introductory German (3) - Students develop basic listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in the target language and gain awareness of the diversity of German-speaking cultures and countries. Besides work in the classroom, computer-based assignments to be completed outside of class are required. Intended for students with no previous formal instruction in German. Anyone with previous instruction must take the placement exam and are admitted to 104 only if the placement score does not qualify the student for GERM 105. Course includes diversity content.
GERM 105. Elementary German I (3) - Students continue to develop the four fundamental skills in the target language (listening, speaking, reading and writing) and gain cultural awareness and communicative skills in a range of social situations. Besides work in the classroom, computer-based assignments to be completed outside of class are required. Course includes diversity content. Prerequisite(s): GERM 104 or qualifying score on departmental placement exam.
GERM 106. Elementary German II (3) - Students engage in culturally appropriate communicative tasks in different registers and situations to further develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Besides work in the classroom, computer-based assignments to be completed outside of class are required. Course includes diversity content. Prerequisite(s): GERM 105 or qualifying score on departmental placement exam.
GERM 204. Intermediate German (5) - General education humanities course. Students expand their knowledge of German-speaking regions of the world and enhance proficiency in expressing personal meaning in culturally appropriate language. Grammatical elements and practical vocabulary coalesce through conversational practice; routine complications are resolved with greater ease in the target language. Besides work in the classroom, computer-based assignments to be completed outside of class are required. Course includes diversity content. Prerequisite(s): GERM 106 or qualifying score on departmental placement exam.
The following sequence of lower- and upper-division courses is offered for those students who wish to pursue their study of German beyond German 204:
GERM 224. Intermediate German II (3) - General education humanities course. Intensive reading and discussion of short German literary works (poems, short stories) combined with intermediate-level review of German grammar and expansion of German vocabulary. This course is required to continue the study of German at the upper-division level (i.e., GERM 300 and above). Prerequisite(s): GERM 210 or equivalent.
GERM 225. German Conversation (2) - The development of oral fluency. Prerequisite(s): GERM 210. Pre- or corequisite(s): GERM 224.
Upper-Division Courses
GERM 300. Intermediate German Readings (3) - General education humanities course. Reading and analysis of German short stories, prose selections from major contemporary works, and poetry, combined with oral and written practice and advanced grammar review. Prerequisite(s):GERM 224 or instructor's consent.
GERM 325. Intermediate German Conversation and Composition (3) - Improves oral and writing skills through vocabulary acquisition and interactive grammar exercises. Course includes diversity content. Prerequisite(s):GERM 224 or instructor's consent.
GERM 526. Advanced German Grammar and Composition (3) - Continues the advanced grammar review begun in GERM 300and focuses on developing German writing skills, including the ability to express oneself with grammatical accuracy and stylistically appropriate vocabulary. Prerequisite(s):GERM 300 or instructor's consent.